Animal trap



Nav. 5, .1929. w. F. HENDRIQKS 1,734,855

ANIMAL TRAP Filedv Jan. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1929. w. yF. HENDRlcKs 1,735,855

ANIMAL TRAP A Filed Jan. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 5, 1929 UNITED STATESY PATENT oFFIcE WILLIAM rLELOYI) HENDRIGKS, OF RICHMOND, VIBGrINIA,` ASSIGNOR F NE-THIRD TO FELIX A. BASCHON, 0F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA ANIMAL TRAP Application led January 14, 1929. Serial No. 332,402.

The object of this, my present invention, is the provision of a trap for catching live animals and which is of such construction that the animal cannot escape from the trap or injure `himself while trapped.

VA further object is the provision of a trap that comprises a substantially rectangular member having :a portion of its top and its ends open, the said portions being' provided with substantially L-shaped hinged members which, when the trap is swung by the contact of the animal with the bait pan arranged therein will gravitate to closed position and j will be automatically locked so that-the escape of the animal will be thus prevented, the ends of the trap being provided 'with vopenings that are covered by wire nettings which serve both as peep-holes and permit of the circulation of air through the trap when the animal is trapped therein.'

A still further and importantobject is the .provision of meansfor setting the trap in a manner which cannot iniiict injury to the trapper, the said means being of a sensitive nature to insure the closing of the trap upon a slight swinging of the bait pan which is arranged in the trap.

To the attainment lof the foregoing and other objects which will present themselves, the improvement also resides incertain other novel features of construction, combination and operative association of parts, one satisfactory embodiment ofwhich vis, disclosed bythe accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: v l .Y Figure 1 is a top plan view of a trap constructed in accordance with this invention. i

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the improvement showing the trap open.

Figure'4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an end view of the trap closed.

Figure 6 is an-enlarged detail elevation to illustrate the manner in'which the closures for the trap are held in open position.

My improved trap may be constructed 'of any desired material and as disclosed by the drawings comprises a substantially rect-an- Vmay be effectively sustained thereon. vshaft 11 terminates in a right angle arm 14 Vgular member 1 that has both of its ends open andits top, for a suitable distance from the said open ends likewise open. The division plate which connects the sides ofthe open body 1 is indicated for distinction by the numeral `2 and to this plate there are hinged, as at 3, respectively, the longer members of right angle elements. These longer elements are indicated for distinction by the numeral'4 and the shorter and outer parts thereof are indicated by the numeral 5. Each o f the elements 4 and 5 is designed to close the open top andthe `ends of the trap, the elements 5 being provided with spring clips 6to engage with spring catches 7 that are fixed on the bottom 8 of the trap body. Themembers 5 are also provided with a central preferably round opening 9 that is Vcovered by` a reticulated Vplate 10.

Arranged transversely through the body 1, adjacent to the bottom 8 of the trap, and at the center thereof, there is journaled in suitable openings a shaft 11. This shaft has fixed thereon a bait pan' 12. As disclosed by Figure 2 ofthe drawings, the bait pan is Hanged and has on its bottom hooks 13 whereby the bTaijt which is arranged adjacent to one side of the body 1. vkThis arm has its end, on its inner face iattened and is designed to engage'with the attened vsurface on the depending arm 1 5 of a right angular member in the nature "of a trip. The right angle arm 16 of the trip is pivotally supported between upstanding brackets 18 lfixed on the top, adjacent one edge Yof the body 1. `The horizontal arm of the trip has a depressed portion 19 which, when the Y :trap is open, is engagedby the offset end .20

of a rod or arm 21 that is pivotally connected to the member 2 of the body and'which is iniiuenced by a spring 22 in the direction of the able distance from its ends notched or depressed to form the same with lugs 25 and 26 which are designed for @engagement for 1 of a plate 28 which is screwed or otherwise secured on the element 2. The doors are of suflicient weight to swing toclosed and latched position when the trap is sprung. The, trap is sprung by 4an animal entering one .of .the f ends of the body 1 and contacting and .swinging the bait pan 12. This will bring the angle arm 14 of the shaft 11 out of Contact with the arm 15 of what I have termed the trip. The pivotally secured ang-le .rod 21 -w-ifllnowvbe influenced by the spring 2 2, causing the same to swing in the direction of the arrow Vinl Figure 4. The swinging of this rodl will contact with the rods 23 and 24 and bring the ilugs 25 and 26 thereon out ofV engagement-with each other, which' of coursefpermits Athe doors'of the trap to gravitate to closed kposition and thereby eHecti-velytrap an animal without injuring the same. When the doors are closed the trapper can' observe through vthe peepholes -9 the type of `animaltrapped and `obviously by :bringing the catch 6 on one ofthe doors out of engagement with the keeper 7 the trap, when lifted and inverted will cause the trapped animal to gravitate into a Vbag or other receptacle. f t

The construction is simple and the advantages thereof will, it is thought,be `understood and appreciated by those 'skilled Vin the art to which such invention relates' so that n-further .detailed description will notbe reqnired. Obviously- I do' not wish-to be restricted to the kprecise details herein set forth and, therefore, hold myself entitled to malte such changes therefrom as fairly fall wit-hin the scope of what I `cla-im. l

' Having described the invent-ion, I claim:

, 1.. An animal trapV comprising a body having openiends, weighted doors hinged to the top' `ofthe body, catch means between' the doors and the'bottom ofthe body, r.ods vhaNi-ng lu'g endslooselyconnected to the doors, and the lugs of the said rods designed-for inter.- engagem'ent AVto hold'thev rods in alinement and `the doors. open, a bait 'pan-"journaled'in v the body andmeans'operated upon the swing'- ngofthebait'pan for ybreaking'the joint between the rods to permit of .the .doors swing- `ingtoclosed and latched position.

2. An animal trap comprising a body having open ends anda' partly open top, weighted angle doors having Vtheiry upper portions VhingedV to thetop,vsp-ring catch meansbetween thedoors and the Abottom of the body, rods loosely ,connected tothe upper portionsof the doors/and having lug ends designedv` for inter-engagement ltohold the doors open, a bait pan'journaled in the body andmeans opervated upon thefswinging of the bait pan for `forcing the rods away ,from each 'other to permit of the doors swinging to closed and latched positions.

3. An animal trap, comprising a body having open ends and a top which is also open except at the center thereof, right angular members providing doors hingedly secured to the top, spring catch means lbetween vthe doors and .the bottom of the body, a shaft journaled transversely through the b odyhavillg .a .bait

pan secured thereon said shaft'having `an angle arm arranged along one side of the ported on the body for contacting with the said arm ofthe lshaft, a spring influenced rod engaging` the trip member for holding lthe samein'conta-ct with the arm, loosely pi-voted rods on the upper elementsof the doors hav- -ing notched ends for coen-gag'ement for kholding the rod ymembers in alineme-nt and the doors open, and said rods 'being in the path of contact" with the spring influenced element for breaking the joint therebetween and for permitting the doors to close by `gravity when the bait pan is swung. l t

' 4. An animal trap, comprising abodyhaving open ends and a top which is also open except at the center thereof, right angular members providing doors hingedly secured to the top, vspring catch means `between the doors and the bottom Iof the body, a shaftjournaled transversely through :the body having a'bait pan secured thereon and said shaft having an Vangle arm arranged along one side of the body, an angle trip member pivotally supported on kthe body for contacting Vwith the vsaid larm of the shaft, aspring ilnuenced rod engaging the trip member for holding the body, an angle trip member pivotally supsame in contact with the arm, loosely pivoted v `members providing doors hingedly secured to the top, spring catch means between thev doors and the bottom'of thebody, a shaft ournaled transversely through the body having a bait pan secured thereon and said shaft having an angle arm arranged along one side of 'the body, an angle trip member pivotallysu ported on the bodyY for contacting with fie said arm ofthe shaft, a spring iniuenced rod engaginglthe trip member for' holding' 'the same in contact with Ythe arm, loosely pif-voted rods on the'upper elements of the vdoors having notchedends for coengagement for holding the rod members in alinement and the doors open, and said rods lbei-ng in the path of Contact With the spring influenced element for breaking the joint therebetweenV and for permitting the doors to close by gravity when the bait pan is swung and means for limiting the opening of the doors and each of said doors having screen protected peep openings.

In testimony whereof I afiX my si nature.

WILLIAM FLOYD HENDR GKS. 

